| Homily for Advent, the 2nd Sunday/Ordinary Time Year C: December 6, 2009
Given by the Most Reverend Stephen E. Blaire at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton.
Almost 600 years before the coming of Christ, the city of Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, and people were carried off as exiles to Babylon. Baruch was one of the prophets who wrote to encourage the people not to give up hope. The day would come when God would bring His people home. This was the word of God that had come into the mind and heart of the prophet Baruch. This very same word of God came again 600 years later to John the Baptist when Rome governed the land of Israel and Herod was a puppet king. John, the last of the great prophets before Jesus, preached a repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Both Baruch and John prepared the way of the Lord.
The word of God always comes in the very real situations in which we find ourselves. It is always a word of encouragement, of hope. Later this morning 10,000 people will gather downtown to process to the arena in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Her message from God is so powerful because in the midst of suffering and prejudice and the vicissitudes of life, she announces: “I am your compassionate mother, for you and for all peoples in this land.” Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of the Americas. She is our compassionate mother who offers us the hope of God and the mercy of Jesus. We celebrate her feast this coming Saturday, December 12.
Advent is the time of the year in the Church which is like a miniature expression of the time of our whole lives. We must always be ready to meet the Lord. We must always be prepared for His coming. The grace of advent helps us to prepare for the coming of Christ in the Feast of Christmas as we should spend our lives preparing to meet the Lord in glory. The Word of God which is powerful comes to us in the Sacred Scriptures and in the living Tradition of the Church. During Advent we can make a conscious daily decision to receive this word which teaches us and empowers us to prepare for the coming of the Lord.
What St. Paul wrote to the Philippians, the Church says to us in Advent: my prayer is that your love increase more and more (love is always a gift of self); that you discern what is of value (what really makes a difference for us and for others in our relationship with God, and in light of our ultimate destiny and purpose of life); that you be blameless for the day of Christ(the intention to do what God wants of us); and that you be filled with the righteousness that comes through Christ(a right relationship with God, a right relationship with yourself, and a right relationship with others). Such a preparation and readiness for the coming of Christ gives glory and praise to God!
Last Update December 7, 2009
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